As12,000 young hockey players hit the ice this weekend for the 31st annual Esso Minor Hockey Week, many will be lucky enough to play in the handful of sparkling new arenas recently built around the city.
But many aging inner-city rinks are in need of urgent repairs, including costly new ice plants that are difficult to fund during a recession.
City officials say it may be time to look at bulldozing and rebuilding some of them, as their maintenance costs begin to exceed the amount it would take to build a new one.
Jim Murphy, general manager of the 40-year-old Huntington Hills community rink, admits that funding annual maintenance is a struggle.
Several projects in Huntington Hills are always being left on the back burner, said Murphy.
And while municipal and provincial grants are available, the amounts have to be matched by the community, leaving overall funding always less than what's needed.
"There seems to be more of a trend towards capital establishment of suburban rinks," said Murphy. "And for us, coming up with the funds we need can really be a challenge."
Some maintenance has been done on the Huntington Hills arena's ice plant in recent years, but the rink needs upgraded electrical components, renovated washrooms, change rooms, flooring and new glass around the boards.
Ed Wahl, manager at the Triwood rink in Charleswood, built in 1972, said it, too, is struggling to come up with money for matching grants.
"There may be as much as $275,000 available a year through matching grants, but we usually get less than $50,000."
Wahl said his wish list is long, including upgrades to the ice plant, a new control panel and oil coolers, an upgraded roof and a new ice resurfacing machine.
West Hillhurst, one of the city's older communities, where teams played on outdoor ice in the 1950s until the indoor arena was built in the 1970s, is also looking at a long list of facility maintenance, including roof replacement to improve temperature control.
"It's a struggle for everybody," said Darren Oxbury, executive director with the West Hillhurst Community Association. "There just isn't enough grant money available to get these places in the condition that we'd all like to get them in."
But as they age, demand for innercity rinks grows as children's and adult groups seek ice for hockey, figure skating or ringette.
Murphy stressed that even though they're struggling with upkeep, innercity community rinks provide important services for everyone from seniors to preschool groups.
City officials admit that deciding between funding the construction of a new facility or providing grant money for the maintenance of an aging one can be difficult.
Since a 2006 feasibility study said Calgary needs 10 to 12 new rinks for its growing population, six new arenas have popped up around the city and its surrounding area. They include two sheets at the Edge School in Springbank, two in Cochrane, one at Max Bell and one opening this month at the old Family Leisure Centre, now called the Trico Centre.
With Edge School being built with private funds and the Cochrane rinks paid for by another municipality, the city has only had to invest in two of those six rinks. Max Bell received $11 million in funding while the Trico Centre got $9.5 million.
Still, several more rinks are under construction, thanks to financial help from the city and province.
A new sheet at Centennial Arenas is expected to be complete by 2011 while three new rinks are slated for Canada Olympic Park by the end of 2010, and a fourth will be complete by 2011.
As well, the South Fish Creek Recreation Association is rapidly fundraising for two more arenas to be built within the next three to five years. The city has committed $39 million to help build all of those projects.
"We actually should have enough rinks to meet population projections by 2012," said Shelley Shea, manager of arenas, athletic parks and sports development. "There is a lot coming on stream."
But Shea admitted that not much money has been available for aging inner-city rinks.
A feasibility study to come in front of council by 2011 is expected to outline if the city's recreational needs are being met, and what the future holds for aging rinks.
Since it's getting harder to cover the older rinks' growing maintenance costs, Shea said the city may have to look at knocking down some single rinks and building twin arenas at the same sites. "I don't know of any new money coming their way. There's always a shortage of money for older rinks just because they cost so much more to operate," she said.
Ald. Ric McIver, whose ward includes the new Trico Centre, admitted it can be difficult to prioritize between old and new rinks.
eferguson@theherald.canwest.com
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